I'm a masochist when it comes to patrolling, in so far as I try to introduce as many factors to prevent me scoring an unrealistic tonnage. Whatever megamod I play I significantly reduce the spawn probability of convoys (30% seems a good number for me at the moment). The Realistic Contacts mod prevents any easy intercepts. I adhere to the 'Just Follow Orders' mod guidelines for everything therein, and use the grid system of patrolling based on pre-conceived ideas such as:
For a given U-boat/Flotilla at a certain date I'll approximate a list of viable grid square locations for patrolling based on historical plausibility. Then use a random number generator to select an overall grid e.g. AL. Another random decision to select a further sub-grid e.g. AL6, and again e.g. AL63. With that established I'll go and patrol AL63 for the prescribed 24hrs or so and then 'radio' BDU for new orders. That will involve the random number generator again telling me to go to any location within AL6. My self prescribed rules dictate that I continue in this fashion for a number of times, and if a contact is not engaged within a set number, than I am ordered to a new adjacent location e.g. AL5.
My understanding is that the U-boats were generally micromanaged by BDU in a similar way and this system tries to replicate that to an extent. If you get luckily assigned to a hot spot for traffic well happy days. Otherwise a lot of boats went out there to their assignments and found nothing. It gives a sense of following orders which sadly has always been a limitation of SH3.
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